Apparatus for distilling wood



2 Sheets-Sheet 1.

(NoModeL) O. J. T. BURGEY. APPARATUS FOR DISI'ILLING WOOD. No. 414,938 Patented Nov. 12,1889.

INVENTUR WITNESSES: I 6 W W F 521 ATTORNEYS A (No Model.)

110.414.9138. A Patented Nov. 12, 1889.

WITNESSES: YINVENTOR v 1. ATTORNEYS UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

CHARLES J. T. BUROEY, OF SYRACUSE, NEWV YORK.

APPARATUS FOR DISTILLING WOOD.

SIECIFIC ATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 414,938, dated November 12, 1889.

Application filed November 15, 1888. Serial No. 290,950. (No model.) i

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, CHARLES J. '1. BURoEY,

' the retorts, and by which apparatus a larger vention.

amount of charcoal from a given amount of wood'is obtained,and also a greater quantity of pyroligneous acid and wood-alcohol is produced, all as hereinafter fully described, and specifically set forth in the claims.

In the annexed drawings, Figure 1 is an end elevation and partly vertical transverse section of an apparatus embodying my in Fig. 2 is a plan view and partly horizontal transverse section of the aforesaid apparatus. At 1 1 1 in said figure the retorts are shown minus their covers. At 2 the empty oven is shown, and at 3, 4:, and 5 are shown sections respectively 011 lines 00 as, y y, and z z in Fig. 1. Fig. 3 is a detail view of the pipes which supply gas mixed with air to the burners in the furnaces of the ovens.

Similar letters of reference indicate corresponding parts.

A A represent retorts consisting of stout metallic tanks provided with removable covers A A and set in parallel rows and suspended in ovens B B, of masonry, by ears a a on the upper ends of the retorts resting on metallic rings 1) b, secured to the top of the ovens. These retorts are charged with the wood to be distilied, and are heated by the combustion of gas in furnaces C O at the bases of the aforesaid ovens. Each of said furnaces I form of a central recess 0, from which radiate fines c c c, which are covered part way and communicate with the oven B, adjacent to the sides thereof. In the central recess 0, I place a gas-burner d, the supplypipe d of which is extended to the exterior of the oven, where it intersects alarger vertical pipe 6, from which W extends a lateral branch 6', provided with a valve f, said branch communicating with the external air.

The gas is introduced into the pipe eby a smaller pipe g, which projects lengthwise into the upper end of the pipe 8, beyond the j unction of the air-pipe c 'e', and is secured air tight around the same. The inner end of the pipe g is tapered and provided with a small opening for the passage of the gas, and the outer end thereof is attached to a main gassupply pipe h, extending lengthwise the row of ovens and supplying gas to the burner under each in the aforesaid manner.

1' represents a port extending from the exterior of the oven to the recess 0 to admit of the introduction of a torch for lighting the burner d. Said port is provided with a door having a transparent plate set in it to allow the person in charge of the apparatus to observe the condition of the flame.

The gas-pipe g is provided with a valve g, equipped witha pointer land a quadrant Z, by which to regulate the said valve, and thus, control the flow of gas, and by means of the valve f the supply of air is controlled,so that by its mixturewith the gas proper combustion is effected. The supply of gas may be obtained either from a natural source, when such exists, or from the distillation of the wood, as hereinafter described, or any other suitable or convenient source.

3 denotes a flue which is extended laterally from the furnace C and part way around the oven immediatelyfback of the fire-brick lining thereof, and communicates with a vertical branch flue F of a horizontal main fine F, extending lengthwise of the row of ovens and to a chimney E. A damper his arranged in the flue F, and provided wit-h a handle k, extending to the exterior of the oven to permit of regulating the draft through'the flues.

By heating the ovens B B the wood contained in the retorts seated in said ovens becomes charred, and in this process vapor is emitted from the wood, which vapor is conducted from the retorts and condensed by the following appliances: The cover of each retort is provided with a short eduction-pipe n, to which are interchangeably connected a cap 1) and a pipe n, which latter extends laterally therefrom and is hinged to another.

get-her and arranged in a serpentine or sinnous course in a cold-water tank D,which tank, with the pipes arranged therein, constitutes a condenser. The lowermost of the pipes oextends through the side of the tank I), and is provided thereat with a stop-cock 0. At the exterior of the described condenser are situated drums or chambers p p pone for each condenser and to said drums are connected the discharge ends of the pipes 0 0 0. The vapors generated in the retorts pass through the pipes 02 n a and through the pipes 0 0 0, and in passing through the latter the vapors become condensed into the form of pyroligneous acid and gas, bot-l1 of which enter the drums p p 12. From the top of each of said drums rises a pipe 1), provided with a valve pt, and deflected downward and connected to a pipe G, which is extended along the exterior of the ovens and to a suitable gasometer, (not shown in the drawings) from which the pipes 71, hereinbefore described, may be supplied with gas. In the drums p p p the gas becomes separated from the pyroligneous acid and passes off through the aforesaid pipes p and G. The drums are tapped at their bases by pipes r 2', which draw ofi": the pyroligneous acid and conduct the same to a trough or troughs or other suitable conduits o" a", which convey the said acid to a tank or tanks H, in which it is collected for subsequent treatment.

In orderto permitof observing the progress of the process of eharring and distilling the wood in the retorts A A, I attach to the pipe at 11 small pipes equipped with petcocks s .9. By opening the latter and observing the color of the gas issuing therefrom the condition of the contents of retorts can be ascertained.

Between the two rows of ovens I place a railway R, upon which I mount a carriage or truck T, and upon the latter I mount a crane U, which is pivoted to turn in a horizontal plane, so as to permit the crane to be swung over the retorts at either side of the railway. The truck or frame T is made high enough to elevate the crane above the level of the tops of the retorts A. each retort, with the wood charred therein, is lifted outof the oven and carried to the place where the charcoal is to be deposited, and another retort charged with wood is carried to the empty oven and placed therein, the gas By means of this cranebeing in the meantime cut off from the burner (Z of said oven.

The small vertical pipes, which are provided with petcocks s, are connected with and carried by the movable pipes 11. Each of the pipes n is so coupled with a pipe a that said pipe a may be turned laterally and disconnected from pipe 0? of cover A, and a cap 01 may then be secured to said pipe 02. and connected with the derrick and the retort A raised from the oven.

Having described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

1. The combination, with the even I; and the retort seated therein, of a heating-furnace consisting of a central recess c,provided with radiating lines, which communicate with the oven, and a fluej, which extends laterally from the furnace and partly around the oven along the lining thereof, the main flue F,communicating with the said flue j, and a gasburner within the recess a, substantially as and for the purpose described.

2. The oven B, provided at its base with a central recess 0, in combination with the retort A, seated in said oven, the gas-burner (Z in said recess, a pipe (1, extending from said burner to the exterior of said even, the enlarged vertical pipe 6, provided with lateral air-ducts e, and gas-pipe g, provided with a valve and extending lengthwise into the end of the pipe 0 beyond the connection of pipes e and e, substantially as and for the purpose described.

3. The combination, with a retort A, having a cover which is provided with a short pipe n, of a pipe a, movable pipe 41, hinged to pipe or" and provided with a short pipe which has a petcock s, and a cap *r, constructed to be relnovably attached to pipe 72 of the cover, substantially as and for the purposes described.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto signed my name, in the presence of two witnesses, at Syracuse, in the county of Onondaga, in the State of New York, this 13th day of November, 1888.

CHARLES J. T. BURCEY. 

